Generation Gap :D
72All human problems come into the grey areas. Things are not always black and white. There have to be compromises
George Orwel once said, " Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it."
In some homes, parents have to struggle hard to impose their authority as parents in many issues. They find the kind of langaeage their kids are using nowadays as disrespectful.They complain that their kids spend more time chatting on the net, or partying rather than spend time with their books or attend family gatherings. They can't anymore find time to sit together and discuss family issues like normal humanbeings. The parents disapprove with what thier daughters wear especially tattoos nose rings and belly rings..
Parents are shocked to how much their kids know about sex. They are also surprised that sexual education is introduced to the curriculum and don't suppport that at all.
On the other hand, kids are complaining that their own parents simply don't understand them. Their parents are authoritarian and want things to stay as ancient as they are (lol). They see them as monsters that seem not to understand what their kids are going through at school from peer pressure to tons and tons of homework and research. They complain that their parents and them don't see eye to eye.They never hear them .Kids in my age believe that their parents never see them old enough to form their own opinions even at the age of seventeen.When they try to reason out, they are told to shut up and keep their opinions to themselves.And so , their parents are responsible to decide for them what will they be in the future (doctors or teachers) when, in fact, they simply just want to be fashion models, singers, or even strippers.
It has been said that the first step is to admit the existance of a problem. Well, most parents have worked hard to ensure a happy life for their kids. However, time is changing and so are parents expected to move along with time. Children on the other hand should look back with gratitude and love to what their parent did for them.
Thus, all human problems come into the grey areas. Things are not always black and white. There have to be compromises. Generation gap is a fact, but we are armed with love for each other, education, and better outlook for the future to help overcome this problem.
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the primary reason why generation gaps exist between parents and their children is the absence or lack of communication. if only parents and kids alike open up more, change views more, discuss whatever issues they have, problems associated with the so-called "generation gap" could be prevented or lessened. :D
well, when i say ' Grey areas' i mean that there life is not black and white ie life is not (my way or the high way) . i mean by it compromises. i guess the proverb i adapted it from isn't really clear. here at least in Lebanon, the kids of a traditional family have no right to disapprove with their parents. being half Filipino half Lebanese made it hard cause MOM is really open minded, and when u tell your typical classmates that you and your mom are best friends , they simply regard u as a lunatic. sometimes , generation gap is a huge problem, i remember that one of my classmate's step- mother hit her with a frying pan because she dared to disobey. \i am not saying that all lebanese by cuture are violent, but people of the middle east especially parents demand complete obidience, like creon the king of thebes in Antigone, and because of that, he loses his oThus generation gap , is more often presented in households with colliding cultures (modern and traditional one) the only way to solve it is to establish good communication. \thank god mom is really cooperative . And i tell her everything, though this might seem insane :D thanks for your serious comment n for sharing your point of view Uriel
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AS for what you said Cris, it is true. Some parents would rather stick to their opinions due to the belief that their word is supreme ( i guess this applies more to middle-Eastern cultures)Yes, if only parents could be more open to their children, maybe the gap would grow smaller. I knew almost everything when it came to my family when i was ten ( the budget, the life, school, payments you name it). If only parents had internet connection in order to read their kids (with restricted access:D) thoughts things would be better.
I understand being a Filipino myself :D anyways, if you want to be heard, speak up but always with respect and humility it's better to communicate with cooler heads :D
It is hard when you are used to talk English at home,and people converse in a differrent language. Here for example being half of a different race means you are alien. And being alien means your plague. Whether or not you are respectful or humble you will be regarded to as second class. (talking from personal experience here ). Anyhows, we learn to gain our rightful place on God's earth and nothing comes easy . This fact makes life interesting and worth living for . :D
Okay, so i guess other than the "generation gap" problems, you have the "cultural boundaties" that you must also deal with. It's a tough place for you I guess you have to try and blend in and adjust if you must but don't lose yourself in the process by not standing your own ground. Express yourself a little more and make them understand where you're coming from. :D
about the generation problem , i ain't got any with mom or my fam thank god, but concerning the other one , i learned by time to make my way through life , be proud of my origins and just be myself. Reach my goals and enjoy life at its extremes ...
You seem pretty certain of what you want in life and how to go about reaching your goals - and that's a good sign. Be true to yourself but be compassionate of others :D
this might be true. And yes, compassion is a key element. :D
So with you on this. Life is NOT black and white. We all have an obligation to keep learning and keep revising our truths based on current experience. Children bring much to the relationship -- including new things parents have had no exposure to. We, as parents, would be well served to LISTEN to them rather than DICTATE to them. At the same time, they would be well served to listen to us, as well.
Some days (ok, most days) I feel like I am the good listener with my teen. I can only hope he absorbs even part of what I try to share with him -- I do try hard not to be overbearing. I don't believe in that approach.
Good hub! MM
Yes people in the middle east find it sometimes really hard to believe that kids at a young age might have formed their own opinions and judge by their young age that this is just impossible. Yet many parents especially from the younger generations have tried their best to share what wisdom they acquired throughout the years with their children, when some of the older generations still find it a little wrong. The thing is time changes and we are expected to make our children in the best methods ready for all the challenges they face in life. Pushing them away or not letting them to join the Elder's conversation by judging from their age is wrong. We should walk hand in hand together with our children teaching them all what we know and when the time is right we have to let go of them and let them make their own decision. Trust them and yourself that you made the right choice in teaching them and by time let them go on with their own lives.
in ol
I used to think it was horrible being a kid and having to listen to my parents (especially when I KNEW how wrong they were). But after having children of my own - I will say that being a parent is the harder of the two jobs because as a parent, we can remember what we felt like as kids and know what they are thinking.
Uriel, great hub! However, on a whole, Baby Boomer and Generation X parents for the most part, are more liberal and accepting of their children's lifestyles and cultures than previous generations of parents especially the G.I. generation of parents who believed that they were right all of the time. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was a wide generation gap between the G.I. generation and the Baby Boomer generation. The lifestyles and culture of the G.I. generation was vastly different than the Baby Boomer generation. The G.I. generation of parents were infinitely one of the most conservative of generations while the Baby Boomer generation was one of the most liberal of generations. The Baby Boomer generation and their children listen to similiar music and sometimes wear similiar clothes. The Baby Boomer generation is quite understanding of their children and are not as judgemental with them as the G.I. generation was with the Baby Boomer generation.
Beautifully said, my lovely, Sis! Parents need to be remember how it is being young and full with rebellion hormone. :D :D :D
But in my case, everything become reverse. I am the backdated old one, and my parents in the middle way of secular life. Luckily my siblings not rebellion type of teenage and young adult. If they start wearing ring on their eyebrow, I am not sure what will happen to my mother.
heheh Freya your comment made me smile, well it isn't that bad to keep reserved and connected to the old traditions [A LITTLE BIT] :D for isntance mom is the type of person who chats online especially to get in contact with my cousins and aunties in philippinese [spelling?] yet dad goes crazy whenever he sees that [for i dont know what reason] but as long as you are in your comfort zone and are doing what you do best who cares!
btw how have you been? have you gotten any better and what about Totty? On my side of the world i got FINALS :S and tamashii hasn't come back, but hisagi got her kids to our garden [very tamashii like all orange with blue eyes, another is all orange like tamashii but with honey like eyes] + there is this new grey kitten in our garden [eating all the food but so kawaii = cute ] i have to get back to my books in 3 minutes so just stopped to say hi and check on you. Please tell me that your sickness has become better, and incase you need some medical help ill ask mom and dad for you :D they both have a long history when it comes to offering medical advice :D
Missing you a lot, best hugs, hoping your day will be a good one
Uriel
Aya Katz Level 4 Commenter 3 years ago
Uriel, interesting hub. You are right that the "generation gap" is something that has been around for a long time. However, not every family suffers from it. Some children identify more with their parents than with their peers. When this happens, children have difficulty making friends, but there is a much more tightly knit family unit. I don't see this so much as a grey area, as an issue of social dynamics.